[startribune] Tom Thibodeau

Fegwu · Mar 22, 2005

I apologize if this has been posted before now...

Wolves update: Who's Tom Thibodeau?

March 21, 2005

Well-kept secret

Tom Thibodeau got the "Who's he?" treatment plenty when he broke into the NBA as a member of Bill Musselman's coaching staff for the Timberwolves' first two seasons. But 14 years later, having paid his dues and worked for some of the top coaches in the business, no NBA general manager -- including Wolves vice president Kevin McHale -- should overlook Thibodeau this summer when filling one of the many head coaching vacancies.

That's the opinion held by Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, Thibodeau's boss for seven seasons in New York and Houston and, from the sound of it, his aspiring agent, too.

"I really do believe this: If Tom Thibodeau had played one game in this league, one game, he'd be a head coach already," Van Gundy said before the Wolves-Rockets game Sunday. "Then people wouldn't look at him as a career assistant; he'd be known as an ex-player."

Thibodeau is from the Van Gundy school, an advocate of defense and a basketball lifer from a low-profile school; he went to Salem State, Van Gundy to Nazareth College. He was an assistant at Harvard when Musselman brought him to the NBA.

Said Van Gundy: "When people go out to hire, that they don't consider [Thibodeau] is only because he's not a self-promoter. You have so many people who are looking for their next job instead of doing their job. He's the direct opposite.

"But there's no one more qualified. He's by far, on our staff, including myself, the brightest basketball mind. It's not even close."

Saunders has ally

Van Gundy is a good friend of former Wolves coach Flip Saunders, fired on Feb. 12 in his 10th season.

"I talk to him all the time," the Rockets coach said. "Hey, look, when you did what he did here, you can look back on your body of work and obviously be very proud.

"If you want to ask the other coaches in this league who the great coaches are in this league, one, you'd be surprised at who some people say. Two, every one of them would have Flip Saunders right up there at the very, very top."

Van Gundy doesn't expect Saunders to be a past-tense coach for long. "He'll have his pick of jobs at they come open --- and they're coming open every day."
Click to expand...

http://www.startribune.com/stories/511/5303662.html

tim562 · Mar 22, 2005

Who is Tom Thibedeau?

J/K

Maybe that's where JVG gets his offense or potent Defense?

Man · Mar 22, 2005

Cool I like him I always seeh im. Hmm..it would be bad to see him go..pretty cool that they mention him in an article

JayZ750 · Mar 22, 2005

There is hope for all of us aspiring coaches!!

rvpals · Mar 22, 2005

Originally posted by tim562
Who is Tom Thibedeau?

J/K

Maybe that's where JVG gets his offense or potent Defense?
Click to expand...

When you always hear Jeff Haggedon said, "I asked Rockets assistant coach Tom Thibedeau about ...?" on TV

smoothie · Mar 22, 2005

i don't think anyone is willing to leave the rockets right now. he would be giving up a championship ring.

Faos · Mar 22, 2005

Originally posted by smoothie
i don't think anyone is willing to leave the rockets right now. he would be giving up a championship ring.
Click to expand...

He would leave in a heartbeat for a head coaching job.

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[startribune] Tom Thibodeau

Fegwu Contributing Member

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